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Author: Strozzi, Giulio
Title: La Venetia Edificata: Poema Eroico con Gli Argomenti del Sig. Francesco Cortesi.
Author: Strozzi, Giulio
Place: Venice
Publisher: Appresso Antonio Pinelli
Date: 1624

Description: [22], 248, [8] pp. With engraved title-page, full-page portrait of Strozzi, 24 engraved plates (one to each canto), index including a full-page plate of Fl. Aetius and Attila, and a fine printer's woodcut on the final verso. (4to) 32x23 cm (12½x9"), full period speckled calf, gilt decorated spine with red and green spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers. First complete edition (the 1621 edition has only the first 12 books), of this rare and important book. Salloch noted of his copy (1969): "A grand Baroque epic on the origin, foundation and early history of Venice." The volume's principal attraction are the fine plates which illustrate the story. We see Attila and his army, tents, ships, scenes of sieges and battles, the Venetians, men and women, all in the dress of the 17th century. The title, an allegory of Venice, including a view of the city and Venezia seated on a big lion, is by Valesio who also did the frontispiece portrait of the author. The first of the plates (Attila with his army coming down from the hills) is by Bernardo Castello; the other plates are by unknown artists.

Condition: Light rubbing to extremities; occasional light soiling and foxing to interior, small closed tear at the top margin of one plate not affecting image, miniscule areas of worming at top edge of some leaves at rear; a nearly fine example of this handsome volume. Item number: 289952